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x w. o. PROUT\;I I Y May 20, 1930. I DISPLAY m Re. 17,672

Original Filed June 7, 192'? 1N VEN TOR. willis 0. Prong ATTORNEY.

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Retained May 20, 1930 UNITED STATES i yRe. 17,672

PATENT OFFICE m 0. PBOUTY, OF HEBIOSL BEACH, ear-mom DISPLAY sicn'Original .Io. 1,871,744, dated Kay 28, 1928, Serial li'o. 197,108, filedJune 7, 1927. Application for reissuefiled larch 1a, 1930. Serial No.437,255.

My invention relates to illuminated display signs of the e in which theilluminating means is a tub ar lighting element and conforms to theshape of thedesign or characters,

the latter generally being in relief or of contrasting color or both. Insuch signs the form of the design or characters is shown by the directlight from the tubular lighting element and also by the light incidentupon and reflected from the relief or colored design of characters infront of which the tubular lighting element is mounted. It is highlydesirable that signs of this character be as pleasing in appearance andas attractive by daylight as in darkness. At night the direct light fromthe lamps and the reflected light from the underlying design contrast sointensely with the surrounding darkness as to obscure andrenderinvisible the structural details of the sign, with the result thatthe appearance of the brilliantly illuminated design is not im aired byany of the structural aylight, however, all of the structure of the signis visible even with the lamps glowing, and for this reason signs'ofthis type are not as attractive by daylight as ordinary unilluminatedsigns.

. One of the objects of my invention is to make a sign of this type thatwill be as attraco tive by daylight as a sign especially designed I fordaylight illumination or other 1llumma-.

tion from a source external to the sign itself, that is, to make a signthat will be equally attractive when self-illuminated and when iluluminated by daylight or other light falling on it from a source outsideof the sign. A further object of my invention is to provide maximumreflection of light from the raised or colored design behind the tubularlamp, to

40 make the raised or colored design of a material to which dust andforeign matter will not readily adhere and which will be water andweather-proof and in itself provide the necessary insulation for thetubular lamps. 4i Tubular neon lamps are largely used for thepurpose'above mentioned. My invention is adapted for use with such neonlamps as well as with other means of illumination such astubularfilament lamps or Geissler tubes, or any source of illumination that maybe ar- .50 ranged in-a lineal form.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation View of a sign constructedaccording to my invention, the illuminating element being a tubular neonlamp. I

Figure 2 is a perspective view partly in acti'on of one of the lettersforming part of the sign shown in Figure 1. v

Figure 3 is a perspective of a sign unit consisting of a base having anilluminated character thereon designed-for assemblage with' othercharacters to form a complete sign.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of part of one of the characters showinga modification of the means for supporting the lamp.

Figure 5 is a section-on the line 5-5 of FigureL- Fi ure 6 is across-section of another modified orm of letter of other character orde- '10 sign element. V a

Figure 7 is a cross-section of-anot-her modification of the character ordesign element.

Figure 8 is a cross-section of another form of character or designelement.

Referring first to Figure 1 of the drawings, each of the letters isformed of glazed ceramic material, one ofthe letters being separatelyshown in Figure 2 where theceramic body of the latter is shown at landthe glaze at 2. A groove 3conforming in outline to the shape of theletter and following the central line of the exposed surface oftheletterserves as a seat for the neon tube 4. The tube 4: is

preferably fastened to the letter and to the underlying base 5, whichmay also be of ceramic material, by means of a wire holder 6 whichextends over the-tube 4 and through r perforations in the letterand'base. The letother suitable means or may be integrally formedtherewith. At 7 and 8 I have indicated sleeves through which theterminals of the tubularilluminating element extend to the back of thesign.

The structure shown in Figure 3 is similar to that shown in Figures 1and 2 except that the single character there shown, the letter A, isconstructed as a separate unit, the section of the tubular illuminatingelement for that letter being complete with its ter minals 9, 10extending to the back of the section 11 of thebase which is madeintegral with or permanently fixed to the part forming the letter A.

The structure shown in Figures 4 and 5 differs from that shown inFigures 1 to 3 in having the tubular lighting element 4" mounted onbrackets 12 which arepreferably formed as integral parts of the letteror other character: on which the lighting element is fixed. The brackets12 project outwardly from the body of the character to space thetubularlighting element at a sufficient distance fromthe exposed surfaceof the character to permit the light to fall directly upon and to bereflected therefrom. With the lighting element mounted as in Figures 1to 3 dependence is placed largely upon diffusion of the light edgewisethrough the glaze as well as by incidence upon the surface of the glazeis illuminate the exposed surface of the let- In Figure 6 I have shownthe upper surface of the letter concave with the tubular lightmg elementextending along the deepest part of the concavity, thereby premittingthe rays of light from the tube to fall directly upon the exposedconcave surface of the letter.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure'7', which is across-section of one of the letters or characters, I have.provideddifferent means for spreading the light over the entire exposedsurface of the character to be illuminated. In this form 1 4 representsthe ceramic body, preferably glazed, of the letter. 15, 15 are plates ofglass which cover the entire exposed face of the letter except thecentral space 16 which forms a. recess conforming to the shape of theletter and in which the tubular lighting element 17 lies. The light fromabout the outer half of the circumference of thetube-will radiatedirectly from the tube to the eye of the observer while the remainder ofthe light will enter the interior 'of the glass plates 15, 15

through the edges 18, 18 and will be confined therein by totalreflection, except'when incident upon the outer surfaces 1-9 of theglass plates, irregular by etching of the plates, or if desired thenecessary irregular surface for the reflection of the ra s to theoutside may be provided upon the inner surface of the glass.

plates or otherwise disposed as in devices ed in a relative theproperties 0 face renders it possible to construct si which surfaces maybe madev constructed.

In Figure 8 I character havin show the cross-section of a the lighingelement mounty deep channel having outwardly projecting side walls 20.In the larger part of the light falls u on and is reflected from thebase 21 and si e walls. 20

of the ceramic character thus increasing the brilliancy of the ceramiccharacter relative to that of the direct light from the tube.

Signs constructed according to my invention possess man advantagesgrowing out of the ceramic material which is preferably used in theirconstruction. Glass also possesses these properties in a high degree butdoes not lend itself so readily to the processes of manufacture and tothe construction of individual signs of special design. While in itsbroader aspect my invention includes the use of-glass and similarmaterials which are vitreous throughout or which may be prepared with avitreous surface or outer layer I have found ceramic material to be bestsuited to the purpose as it is an exceptionally good insulator, iseasily molded or pressed to the form desired, can be glazed and givenany desired color, and by reason of its glazed surface presents a morebrilliant appearance by reflected light than substances heretofore used,is water ahd weather-proof and presents a surface to which dust, soot,and foreign matter generally, does not readily adhere and from whichsuch substances may be readily removed. Furthermore, as hereindescribed, ceramic material can be constructed in simple this form formsfor the support of the illuminating element and this, together with itsglazed surns that present as pleasing an appearance y daylight as whenilluminated' at night.

I claim:

1. A display sign-comprising a character in relief formed of glazedceramic 'mater 1al, said character having brackets mtegrally formedtherewith and projecting from the ,exposed face thereof, and a tubularlighting element conforming to the shape of said character' and mountedon said brackets, said lighting element lyin substantially parallel tothe exposed face of said character and at a distance therefrom to permitdirect radiation of light from said element to all parts of the exposedface of said character.

2. A display sign character having a glazed exposed face, a

luminous tube conforming to the shape" of I said character, said tubelying substantially parallel to the exposed face of said character andIspaced therefrom and means for sup comprising a ceramic lie portingsaid tube inthe spaced relation over my hand.

a. luminous tube in spaced relation to said surface, said tube forming acontinuous column of illumination when energized, the axis of the columnbeing arallel to the surface,

-' and substantially con orming in shape to the symbol, and means forsupporting said'tube in spaced relation to the surface.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set I WILLIS OfPROUTY.

